Town law could

boost affordable housing stock
Inclusionary zoning ordinance will require developers to
build certain amount of low-income units by
COREY YOUNG – Staff Writer
Developers of homes in Windsor may be required to provide
housing for lower-income buyers under a new law being considered
for adoption by the Town Council.
The so-called “inclusionary zoning” ordinance would require that
a certain percentage of new homes in the town be set aside for low-
and very low-income residents.
As currently proposed, the requirements would only apply to
developments of 10 housing units or more — single homes and second
dwelling or “granny” units would be exempt.
The need for an inclusionary law is identified in the recently
approved Housing Element of the Windsor General Plan, and there
appears to be council consensus that at least 10 percent of the
homes in new projects should be reserved as affordable housing.
“The idea is to bring all ranges of income to Windsor,” said
Councilmmember Sam Salmon.
Certain other types of housing developments would also be exempt
from the new law, including homes already approved but not yet
built and projects that are already considered affordable.
At least seven other Sonoma County cities have inclusionary laws
or policies and the amount of affordable homes required in certain
new projects ranges from 10 percent to 20 percent in those
cities.
The Windsor requirement may offer an option for developers to
build fewer affordable units if those units are sold to buyers in
the lowest income bracket.
For example, a developer required to build 10 affordable units
can have that number reduced to seven if he or she agrees to sell
them to very low-income buyers only, according to the current
proposal.
Very low-income families in the Sonoma County area in 2002 made
less than $31,700 a year and low-income families made less than
$50,700, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
The Windsor Planning Department will create a draft inclusionary
law for the council to consider before sending it for discussion at
a public workshop held by the Planning Commission.